If you’ve been to a major league baseball game in the last few years, you know that the national pastime has moved into the technological age. Modern ballparks are bedecked with electronic displays of all kinds and are flooded with music and sound. Advertising is everywhere, and screens showing scores of games, players’ bio’s and videos abound.
When a player comes to bat, a large screen will display his hitting statistics for everyone in the park to see. Batting average, home runs, runs batted in, et al - they are all on display. How embarrassing it must be for a player who is having a miserable year at the plate to have his lowly statistics displayed for all to see. He surely must have “thick skin” and not let it bother him.
Reflecting on all of that, I had this thought. What if our statistics were on full display for all the church to see? Number of prayers offered, visits made, hungry fed, time in Bible reading and study, words of encouragement offered, grief shared, gifts to the needy, ministries supported, times sharing the gospel, sins confessed, kindnesses rendered, tears wiped away, comfort given, truth taught, forgiveness sought, et al. Would I be embarrassed? Would you?
Let’s not get the wrong idea here that our collective number of good works will obtain eternal life for us - that isn’t the case. However, our works are an indication of the treasure we hold dear and of whom we love. The writer of Hebrews noted: “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” It sounds like God is very interested in works done by His people and their love shown through service to others.
Even though our “statistics” are not on display for all to see (We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief!), we should be fully aware that our Lord Jesus has full access to our “statistics” at all times. What does He see when He looks at your stats?